Resonant bar suspension apparatus



July 25, 1950 P. H. ROWE RESONANT BAR SUSPENSION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1947 I L [/VVE/VTOE p40; /7. Ron 5, 5y Z4144) 1477'0R'A/EY.

July 25, 1950 P. H. ROWE 2,516,725

RESONANT BAR SUSPENSION APPARATUS Filed April 30, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Zh z z/vro/e PAY/4 hi 14 01442",

5y Mb 4 Patented July 25, 1950 RESONANT BAR SUSPENSION APPARATUS Paul Henry Rowe, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Maas-Rowe Electromusic Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a. corporation of California Application April 30, 1947, Serial No. 744,875

9 Claims. (01. 84-403) This invention relates to musical instruments of thepercussion type in which rigid bars are struck to produce characteristic musical tones. The strikers are often electromagnetically operated. More particularly, the invention relates to the. suspension of these bars.

An object of this invention is the provision of string supports for resonant bars, and which permit the bars to vibrate freely with resulting clear and vibrant tones.

"Still another object of this invention. is to provide a supporting structure for a resonant bar at its nodal points by means of a long string suspension for free vibration and clearer tone.

' In order to transmit the sound waves produced by thejvibr'ations, the vibrations of each bar are caused to afiect an electric circuit in which a pick-up coil is included. This coil includes a magnetic core, and the bar is suspended over the core so that the vibrations cause corresponding adjusted'for positioning the bar as desired with relation to the coil. Furthermore, by appropriate adjustment of the suspension, the distance of th'e'ba'r from the core can be adjusted to obtain the desired amplitude of the amplified sound. Since a pick-up circuit is associated with each bar, it is thus possible independently to adjust the intensity of the sound caused by each vibratingbar.

Still another object of this invention is to provide suspension means for spaced resonant bars, and which permit long string suspension of each bar; as well as ready adjustment thereof both vertically and horizontally,

: A further object of this invention is to provide long string supports, interposed guides, and adjustment members cooperatively associated with spaced resonant bars in a manner to permit free vibration, as well as adjustment of the bars both vertically and horizontally.

. This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention.- A For this purpose, there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of thepresent specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles-of the invention; but it is to be undertaken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims,

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an instrument incorporating the invention, all of the strikers except one being omitted, as well as other parts, for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along plane 3-3 of Fig.3; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 2, in which are added the elements for restraining the suspending strings on their guides.

In the drawings, supporting frame I0 is conventional so far as percussion-type musical instruments are concerned. The frame is con-.

veniently made from wood, and may include a lower member 3|. Frame II] has two horizontally spaced supporting members. Suspended transversely below frame In are plural spaced resonant bars If of conventional design. These bars are made from magneitc material. Near the end of each bar 1 I, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, there is a pick-up coil 40 that has a thin metal shell 4| supported in an appropriate recess in frame member 3|. This coil has a core 42 which may be a permanent magnet or part; or, a part of core 42 may be a permanent magnet, and another part soft iron. The top of the core is spaced slightly below the corresponding bar to pick up the vibrations therefrom, so as to vary the flux through the coil 40 in accordance with the bar vibrations.

These bars H are shown as of graduated lengths to correspond to the desired tones to be produced by striking them. Furthermore, to provide the desired tonal qualities, some of them may have reduced intermediate portions 32 (Fig. 1). A hammer or striker I2. having the felt cap l3 thereon and overhead damper l4 connected thereto by a looped wire I 5, is interposed between the spaced resonant bars in the complete musical instrument. Only one striker is shown for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood that similar strikers are provided for each bar ll, all bein appropriately supported beneath member 3| and electromagnetically operated.

Now, directing the description specifically to thelong string suspension of resonant bars, a series of string guides l6 (Fig. 3) are secured to each member of the frame Ill adjacent its lower edge, said string guides being interposed between the spaced resonant bars ll. These guides are in the form 0f pins slanted downwardly toward,

3 the space between the two longitudinal frame members of support 10.

Manually operated string anchoring and tightener members I! are obviously plural in number, and provide the attachment and adjustment means for the long string sustaining the bar. These anchors may be in the form of eyes screwed into the top of'frazne 10, immediately above guides l6. As shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, there is a double row of these anchors on each of the frame members to provide suflicient spacing between the anchors. are all shown with their eye loops parallel to each other this is only for the sakeofsimplifyingthe drawing. In actual use, the angularpositions' of the eyes are haphazard.

Inasmuch as each string suspens-i'onmeansr-ior an individual resonant bar is the same, it is believed necessary merely to describe 9, single resonant bar support.

In Fig. 2 a long string I8 is. secured, asby'ai knot I9, to one of its anchors indicated in this instance as it, although numeral. ll describes such" members generally. The long string" [8 passes downwardly along a vertical face of mem.- b'er Iii" (see Fig. 3)} and thence underneath guide I6 and above one resonant bar I I thence around resonantbar HA at a nodal point thereon; The

looped string maybe held in looped'form by a" string loop' 24. The string I8" is then passed above another adjacent bar- H, underneath another guide [6, and finally'attached securely to anchor 22.

It is desirable, in some instances, that the resonantbar l l begrooved at the nodal point'to permit ready encircling by the long string suspension member; or the long suspension string may be attached to the resonant bar by passing through a hole. in the bar (Fig. 4). As a'matter of fact, the suspension string may well be attached to the resonant bar in various ways without'departing'in the least from the invention. I

The outer ends of the long string 18, previously described as attached to anchors and 22,,may' be readily adjusted by manual means;,either to tighten the string or to loosen same. In other words, a wide degree of adjustment relative to the core 42 may be given to the resonant bar H by'merely adjusting the lengths of the strings at the anchors 28'; 22 as the condition warrants. This adjustment is effected by turning the eye or anchor so as to wind or unwind the string on'the shank of "the eye.

As shown most clearly in Figs; 2 and 4, the

series of stringsfor' the bars overlap and cross a above the bars ll; Each bar is provided with similar string suspensions adjacent each end-of the bar to form a double suspension;

Each of the guides 16- serves effectively for two strings; one passing toward the right thereof, and the other to the left; as indicated by thestrings'l'aand 36 inFig. 2

It is quite obvious that the resonant bar is afiorded not only a considerable degree of vertical adjustment with respect to core 42, but also said bar may be moved horizontally in either direction by the proper adjustment of the long string, so as to bring the bar into the desiredrelation to its respective core.

Although the pins l6 (Fig. 3) slope downwardly" and' thus restrain strings i8 from slippingoff' the guide, supplemental restraint may be used; Thus, assliown in Fig. 4', a continuous lengthof string 31 may be looped once around each guide and thus-confine the strings against frame Ill. The- Although these screw eyes ends of string 31 may be conveniently anchored on anchors similar to anchors l1.

String I8 passes above adjacent resonant bars on either side of the supported member before engaging guides l6 which, in turn, permit vertical disposition and final attachment of the long string to the anchors IT, 20, 2 I.

Although but one off the long string suspension devices for a single resonant bar has been shown, it is obvious that the string support or suspension for each spaced bar is exactly the same; Further, it is believed entirely clear that this long string. suspension device permits each individual. resonant bar support to be made in exactly the same manner, and without any possible interference to each other.

It is appreciated that resonant bars have heretoforebeen suspended or supported in some manner by strings; and it is not the intention broadly to. claim a string suspension for resonant bars. When the term' string is used, there is contemplated; of course, the use of a cord orany'equivae lent structure.

This invention is directed particularly to. long string suspension. of aresonant bar which. differs. from string suspension means. heretoforeused inlthat the resonant bar herein is. free. to. vibrate completely, with the result that thetones produced is clear and vibrant; and,.fur.thermore,. by aid of, the suspension means, adjustment oithe' bar relative to its pick-up coil can. bereadily effected.-

I claim:

1. In an. apparatus of the classdescribed: a-

frame; a plurality of spaced horizontal resonant? barsadaptedtobe suspended from said frame;.. means. suspendingeachv of. said bars. from. the frame, said means comprising for each bar a: pair: of strings attached; to the barat spaced. points. thereof, and each extending: substantiallyperpendicularly to the axis" of said bar to-said frame; and anchors for eachend-of-ieachf-stringc mounted. on the frame. and spaced'substantially on each side. of'the bar; said. anchoring means; having provisions. for. adjusting thelength of the. suspending cord.

2. Inan apparatus of the class. described; as frame; a=plura1ity of spaced horizontalresonant! bars. adapted to; be suspended. from said frame; means suspending each of said bars from. the: frama'saidmeans comprising for each-bar a pair: of. strings attached to the bar at spaced points thereof, and each extending substantially per pendicularlyto the axis of said bar to:saidfram;e;

anchors: for. each end of 'eachistrin'gmountedionf thesframe and spaced substantially on each side: of; the bar; and means on the frame'for guiding the strings.

3. In. apparatus'of the character described: a. series" of closely spaced parallel resonant bars; said bars extending substantially horizontally-y. a suspending cord" for each bar, said cord "having": a-portionattached to the bar, and diverging por' Y tions extending transversely of the'bars and above them in a substantially vertical plane; said transverse portions extending above and beyond" bars adjacent to the one that is suspended; and anchoring'means'for the ends of the transverse 1 portions; the cords being anchored substantially above the bars; said anchoring means having pro-- vi'sions'for adjusting the length of the suspendingcord.

4-. In apparatus of'thecharacter described? a: series of closely spacedparallel resonant bars;

said bars extending substantially horizontally; a pair of suspending cords for each bar, each of said cords having a portion attached to the bar, and diverging portions extending transversely of the bars and above them in a substantially vertical plane, said transverse portions extending above and beyond bars adjacent to the one that is suspended; and anchoring means for the ends of the transverse portions, the cords being anchored substantially above the bars; said anchoring means having provisions for adjusting the length of the suspending cord.

5. In apparatus of the character described: a series of closely spaced parallel horizontal resonant bars; a suspending cord for each bar, said cord having a portion attached to the bar, and diverging portions extending transversely of the bars and above them, said transverse portions extending above and beyond bars adjacent to the one that is suspended; anchoring means for the ends of the transverse portions, the cords being anchored substantially above the bars; said bars being made from magnetic material; and magnetic pick-up coils cooperating respectively with each bar.

6. In an apparatus of the class described: a frame; a resonant bar adapted to be suspended from said frame; means suspending said bar from the frame, said means including a string member attached to the bar, said string having end portions diverging from said bar and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said bar; a pair of guides on the frame for each of said end portions, said guides being displaced from each other and located respectively on each side of said bar; and anchor means for the extremities of each end portion on the frame for securing said strings thereto.

7. In an apparatus of the class described: a frame; a horizontal resonant bar adapted to be suspended from said frame; and means suspending said bar from the frame, said means including a string member attached to the bar, said string having end portions diverging from said bar and extending in plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said bar; a pair of guides on the frame for each of said end portions, said guides being displaced from each other and located respectively on each side of said bar; anchor means for the extremities of each end portion on the frame for securing said strings thereto; and means for varying the distance of said end portions between the bar and the anchor means for varying the perpendicular distance of said bar from said frame.

8. In an apparatus of the class described: a frame; a plurality of spaced resonant bars adapted to be suspended from said frame; means suspending each of said bars from the frame, said means comprising for each bar a pair of strings attached to the bar at spaced points thereof, said strings each having end portions diverging from said bar and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said bar; guide means on the frame for each of said end portions and displaced laterally of said bar; and anchor means for the extremities of each end portion on said frame for securing said strings thereto.

9. In an apparatus of the class described: a frame; a plurality of spaced horizontal resonant bars adapted to be suspended from said frame; and means suspending each of said bars from the frame, said means comprising for each bar a pair of strings attached to the bar at spaced points thereof, said strings each having end portions diverging from said bar and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said bar; guide means on the frame for each of said end portions and displaced laterally of said bar; anchor means for the extremities of each end portion on said frame for securing said strings thereto; and means for varying the distance of each of said strings between the bar and the anchors for varying the perpendicular distance of said bars from said frame.

PAUL HENRY ROWE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,034,001 Durfee July 30, 1912 1,886,603 Strothotte Nov. 8, 1932 2,167,600 Gardiner July 25, 1939 2,261,346 Demuth Nov. 4, 1941 2,286,587 Sundt June 16, 1942 2,288,455 Howard June 30, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 151,318 Germany May 17, 1904 

